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A Dance like Starlight: One Ballerina’s Dream.

Dempsey, Kristy (author).

It’s hard to find stars in the sky over New York City, which means it’s hard to wish on one. A young black girl living in Harlem in the 1950s has a big wish, though: to be a prima ballerina. Her mama says you don’t need wishes to make a dream come true—you need hope. When the Ballet Master at the ballet school where Mama works cleaning and sewing costumes notices the girl mimicking dancers backstage, he takes notice: “The Ballet Master made an arrangement / for me to join lessons each day / from the back of the room, / even though I can’t perform / onstage with white girls.” There’s another reason to hope, too. Janet Collins, the first black prima ballerina, is performing at the Metropolitan Opera House. The girl and her mama take three buses to see her leap and twirl effortlessly across the stage. Dempsey’s lyrical prose soars as it depicts one girl’s dream—and her efforts to make that dream a reality. Floyd’s hazy mixed-media illustrations capture 1950s Harlem, from streetscapes to fashions, while also shining a spotlight on a girl’s aspirations. An inspiring introduction to Collins that will speak to little dreamers everywhere. Ann Kelley